Help Keep The Flags Waving

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Local nonprofit group, The Graybeards, have been mounting American flags along Rockaway Beach Boulevard since Sandy, as a way to continue to show the neighborhood’s patriotism and resilience. The flags were originally placed by the Wounded Warrior Project for their welcome weekend in July, but Jim Mullen of the Graybeards decided to carry on this tradition and keep the flags flying from Memorial Day to Veterans Day. The Graybeards, with the help of Liz Hanna of the former Browns Hardware, picked up the costs to replace and mount the flags.

However, the old, damaged flags need to be retired and new sets need to be purchased. The Graybeards have made donations and Mazzone’s Hardware is picking up where Brown’s left off to purchase and sell the flags at cost, however help is still needed.

Mullen is reaching out to the community in case anyone else is willing to lend a helping hand. Donations can be made through the Graybeards (a 501 non-profit). Those interested in making a donation, can make checks out to The Graybeards. Write “Flags” in the memo. Donations can be mailed or dropped off to the Graybeards office at 129-04 Newport Ave (Office entrance is on the Beach 129th Street side of the corner building).

Additionally, if anyone has a flag that needs to be retired, there is a "mailbox" behind the steps of the Graybeards office, where you can drop off your flag. If you see a damaged flag, you can also reach out to Mullen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and he will see to it that the flag is retired properly.